Ben Broster

{{short description|English-born Welsh rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{EngvarB|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Ben Broster

| image = Ben Broster 2012 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Broster in 2012

| birth_name = Benedict Graham John Broster

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|5|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Southwark, London, England

| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|115|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/london_wasps.php?section=1 |title=Aviva Premiership Rugby – London Wasps |work=web page |publisher=Premier Rugby |access-date=9 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616063752/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/rugby/london_wasps.php?section=1 |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}

| ru_currentteam =

| position = Prop

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Haywards Heath RFC

| years1 = 2002–2007

| years2 = 2007–2008

| years3 = 2008–2009

| years4 = 2009–2012

| years5 = 2012–2017

| years6 = 2017–2018

| clubs1 = Saracens

| clubs2 = Llanelli Scarlets

| clubs3 = Northampton Saints

| clubs4 = London Wasps

| clubs5 = Biarritz

| clubs6 = Bayonne

| apps1 = 67

| apps2 = 9

| apps3 = 1

| apps4 =

| apps5 = 89

| apps6 = 54

| points1 = 10

| points2 = 0

| points3 = 0

| points4 =

| points5 = 5

| points6 = 5

| repyears1 = 2005

| repteam1 = Wales

| repcaps1 = 2

| reppoints1 = 5

| school = Hurstpierpoint College

}}

Benedict Graham John Broster (born 7 May 1982) is a former professional rugby union footballer. Born in Southwark, London, he began his professional career with Saracens, and also played for the Llanelli Scarlets, Northampton Saints, London Wasps, Biarritz, and Bayonne. He is a tighthead prop and is known for his scrummaging technique and mobility.

Broster was educated at Hurstpierpoint College, and started his career coming though the ranks at Haywards Heath RFC. He made his English Premiership debut for Saracens in 2002 against Northampton Saints[http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/saints/Mallinder-keen-on-forwards-battle.4110851.jp Mallinder keen on forwards battle after key signings – Northampton Chronicle and Echo] before making his debut start against London Wasps in 2003.

Broster was a member of the Wales squad that toured the United States and Canada in the summer of 2005, and was capped in games against both teams. He came off the bench to win his first cap against USA,[https://archive.today/20070703090228/http://www.wru.co.uk/114_5457.php WALES CLIP EAGLES WINGS] and scored a try on his first start against Canada.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4078460.stm Canada 3–60 Wales]

After seven years with the London club, graduating from their academy, Broster joined the Llanelli Scarlets for one season in May 2007.{{cite news |title=Scarlets swoop for prop Broster |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/6665467.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=17 May 2007 |access-date=20 May 2008 }}

He joined Northampton Saints{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7414663.stm | work=BBC News | title=Northampton bag Scarlets' Broster | date=22 May 2008 | access-date=26 April 2010}} for the start of the 2008–09 season making one appearance in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

In the summer of 2009, London Wasps signed Broster on an initial one-year deal.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps30880.ink |title=London Wasps: Hickey and Broster add further depth to 09/10 squad |access-date=17 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822211952/http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps30880.ink |archive-date=22 August 2009 |url-status=dead }} He started nearly every game, and in April 2010, he signed a new contract to keep him at the club for a further two years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/Wasps31379.ink |title=London Wasps: Betsen leads a raft of Wasps re-signs Club News |access-date=5 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326160322/http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps31379.ink |archive-date=26 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}

After cementing himself as a mainstay of the Wasps team for three seasons, Broster signed a deal taking him across the Channel to Top 14 side Biarritz Olympique until 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps33117.ink |title=London Wasps: Wasps confirm Broster departure Club News |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602070014/http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps33117.ink |archive-date=2 June 2012 |url-status=dead }} He later played for Bayonne before an injury forced him to retire in 2018.